POLOKWANE – With just days to go before the June 30 deadline set by the March and March movement for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country, Limpopo residents are watching, waiting and wondering: Will the province stay calm, or become a flashpoint?

The answer, for now, remains uncertain.

The movement, which has gained traction across multiple provinces, has called for a nationwide demonstration on Tuesday to demand tougher action on illegal immigration. Organisers have insisted the campaign is not xenophobic but focused on national security and border control.

What police are saying

On an interview with SAfm, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has expressed confidence that operational plans are in place.

Earlier this week, Cachalia directed all Provincial Commissioners to enforce the law without fear or favour and to respond swiftly and decisively to any acts of incitement, violence, intimidation or criminality.

The Limpopo question

What remains unclear is exactly how this will play out in Limpopo.

March and March organisers have confirmed that plans are underway in the province, with the group saying its support extends to Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

But Saps has not provided specific details on deployments, intelligence or operational plans for Limpopo.

The province’s position as a border region – sharing frontiers with Zimbabwe and Mozambique – makes it a natural point of focus. The movement’s demand for stricter border control resonates here, where communities live with the daily reality of cross-border movement.

What we still don’t know

Review Online has sought clarity from the Limpopo SAPS on a number of points:

• Which areas they expect to be hotbeds for the protests
• What specific operational plans and resources have been deployed
• How Limpopo police intend to respond to violence, intimidation, or criminality.

At the time of publication, no response has been received.